Owner says community ‘will never get pub back’

Laughing and smiling, the owner of several derelict buildings that blight neighbourhoods across Bristol was confronted by a local resident outside one of his properties.

Mushtaq Ahmed was fined more than £10,000 in March for ignoring warnings and failing to carry out maintenance work on three properties in the city.

One of these properties is the derelict Gainsborough pub in Lockleaze, which is subject to an ongoing compulsory purchase order from Bristol City Council in order to build a mix of affordable council housing and community space on the site.

Local councillors hope that the site could become a cafe or pub but Ahmed is adamant that the people of Lockleaze will not be getting a pub.

“You’ll never get your pub back, you’ll never get your pub back, guaranteed, guaranteed, never, never,” said Ahmed, in a video posted by Paula McNama to the Love Lockleaze Facebook page.

Sixty-five-year Ahmed is listed on the Companies House website as being a director of several different companies, all with the correspondence address of 396 Stapleton Road in Easton.

The business with its name above the door here is Iqbal Textiles & Sari House, with Ahmed both a director and secretary of Iqbal Fabrics Ltd, and director and secretary of Iqbal Cash & Carry Ltd.

Bristol24/7 first reported about Ahmed in 2016 when tenants in Easton united to accuse him of letting damp and mouldy homes – many of which were paid for with rent subsidised by Bristol City Council.

In 2021, the Bristol Cable revealed that Ahmed was sitting on a multi-million pound property portfolio in Bristol but “seems happy to let derelict buildings he owns in several prominent city locations simply rot”.

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Read more: Property owner landed with £10k fine over state of his graffiti-covered properties

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On another video, Ahmed is filmed reading the notices pinned to the Heras fencing around the former pub, which was called the Blue Boy when it opened in the 1950s.

“I’ve already got those anyway,” said Ahmed.

During his visit on Easter Day, somebody was painting the hoardings at the front of the pub, with painting continuing on Monday.

Mushtaq Amed outside the derelict Gainsborough pub in Lockleaze – photo: Paula McNama / Facebook

Writing on the Love Lockleaze Facebook page, Green Party councillor Heather Mack shared the latest.

“Good news update on Gainsborough Pub!” she wrote.

“The compulsory purchase has finally been approved by the secretary of state. So as long as it’s not appealed it should be owned by the council in a few months.

“Myself and David Wilcox have been really frustrated by this process, and I know you all have too! The plan is for it to become some sort of ‘active frontage’ so a cafe or pub or similar!”

The Gainsborough, whose roof is missing following a fire in July 2019, was once a lively pub with a skittle alley and regular entertainment – photo: Martin Booth

Responding to Mack, Gary James said: “Should be a pub again. Estate as big as Lockleaze should have its local back.”

Rose Drew said: “It’s been a nightmare for years. We need good shops not a cafe.”

Craig Knight added: “All the owner needs to do is clean up the rubbish or be spotted doing something to that property very soon. And then this whole process will be a waste of time and will remain his.”

Main photo & video: Paula McNama / Facebook

Read next:

• Tenants use Gumtree to shame Easton landlord
• Derelict pub remains eyesore two and a half years after council agreed to buy it
• 9 things you probably didn’t know about Lockleaze
• Calls for council to guarantee community space in new development

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